Socheata Poeuv

Moment of Obligation: What experiences led to the desire to start your own organization?
In 2006, I visited Long Beach, CA, home to the largest population of Cambodian Americans. I was there to introduce my documentary film, New Year Baby, and host an open forum about the legacy of the Khmer Rouge genocide. At the event, I heard over and over again from young people that their parents rarely talked about their experience of surviving. I understand first hand what it's like to have parents who are reluctant to share their story. When I made my documentary film about my family, I began to understand at a profound level their sacrifice and love for me. This is the gift I want to give to the Cambodian families.

Gall to Think Big: What has given you the ability to dream big and take on deeply entrenched problems in the world?
Most people in life are stuck on the small problems like sitting in traffic or having a leaky roof. I love to take small problems and extrapolate them into big ones. Like transforming the problem “my parents and I don’t understand each other” into the problem “Cambodian families lack bonding and connection.” Small problems can leave you inert; big problems call you forward to create a solution.

New and Untested: What’s innovative about your new idea for social change?
No other organization exists with a mandate of videotaping stories of the Cambodian genocide by having their children interview their parents. Khmer Legacies is neither therapy nor self-help development, but is based the belief that storytelling can take a culture of denial and avoidance in Cambodian communities and transform into one of acknowledgement and honor.  

Seeing Possibilities: What are the most important qualities to be a successful social entrepreneur?
Peace: Being with the unknown, the unpredictable and even failure. Faith: Belief in yourself and your community to create results. Courage: Acknowledging your fear and acting anyway.

Which musical artists/albums get you going and keep you inspired?  
U2, South African music from the anti-apartheid movement, like Vusi Mahlasela and Tracy Chapman.

What books do you recommend?
I love reading biographies and autobiographies of great people like: Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela, Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder (about Dr. Paul Farmer), and The Story of My Experiments with Truth by Mohandas K. Gandhi.

Which websites do you visit often?